George R. Bathe, who for many years operated the Eagle Grove farm, ons ection 29, Bloomington township, removed to Kansas the winter of1890-1 a nd subsequently became a resident of Oklahoma, where he stillresides. H is birth ocurred in Moultrie county, Illinois, on the 20thof March, 18 42, and he is a son of James and Melinda (Powell) Bathe,both natives o f Illinois, the former born in Vermillion county.
George R. Bathe was left an orphan when but ten years of age and whenf ourteen years old came to Decatur county, Iowa, with hisbrother-in-law , A. J. McClain, with whom he made his home for years.He received a go od common-school education but on the 15th of August,1861, when ninete en years of age, he enlisted in Company M, ThirdIowa Volunteer Cavalry , for service in the Civil war and participatedin all of the engagemen ts in which that regiment took part. Althoughhe was once slightly woun ded he never missed a roll call and becauseof gallant conduct was made s ergeant major in 1863. On the 9th ofAugust 1863, he was honorably disc harged with his regiment atAtlanta, Georgia, and on the 20th of that m onth he was mustered outat Davenport, Iowa. He returned to Decatur cou nty and in the fall of1863 took up his residence in Decatur City, wher e he remained forthree years, removing to Bloomington township in the s pring of 1868.He settled upon his farm which was known as Eagle Grove f arm, onsection 29, that township, near Tuskeega. He also owned five hu ndredacres of land on sections 22 and 23 and was an extensive breeder o fthoroughbred shorthorn cattle. He sold many head of registered stock and did much to improve the grade of cattle raised in Bloomingtontownsh ip. There were many who regretted his departure, when in thewinter of 1 890-1 he removed to Kansas, whence he went to Oklahoma.
Mr. Bathe was married on the 13th of October, 1865, to Miss M. A.McDON ALD, a daughter of Malay and Mary (Ferguson) McDONALD. To thisunion we re born six children: Mrs. Nora Morris of Denver, Colorado;Mrs. Charle s T. Rhodes; Irvin L., a sketch of whom appears elsewherein this work; A von, who is married and who lives in Lenapah,Oklahoma; Carrie, the wif e of Ernest Shepherd, of Pueblo, Colorado;and Charles W., of Coffeyvil le, Kansas.
Mr. Bathe is a republican and has been quite prominent in local publica ffairs. He has been a devoted husband and father and the family areclo sely bound together by ties of mutual affection. His genial natureand g reat-hearted generosity have endeared him to those whom he hascome in c ontact, while his unswerving integrity and strict honestyhave won the s incere respect of all who know him."
Residences & events:
7/5/1860 BloomingtonTwp, Decatur Co, IA. Having lost both parents,he , sister Mahala and brother John lived with Margaret and AndrewMcClain t here. George was 18, Mahala, 16, and John, 8. The othertwo siblings w ere with relatives back in IL.
8/19/'1870 Same place, PO Decatur City. Before the next census hehad m arried and had children. He was listed as J R in the index butG R in t he original, 28, wife Margret, 26, with daughters Nora, 3,and Lorena, 1 . He was a fairly wealthy farmer with property worth$2500/1400. They w ere the only Bathes in the county.
7/19/1880 Still there. That census taker recorded him as G R Bathe,3 8, wife Margaret A, 36, and children: Nora, 13, Lorena, 11 Irvin, 3an d Avon, 9m. Also counted there was nephew A J McClain, 19. Georgewas s till farming, AJ was a farm laborer. E W McDonald lived nextdoor, Marg aret's brother?
6/6/1900 Osceola Twp, St Clair Co, MO. George's life had changed int he past 20 years, having lost a wife, remarried, had another childand m oved twice, to KS where his daughter was born, then MO. Listedwere Ge o R Bathe, 58, married 9 years to Sadie L, 37, who had birthedone chil d, still living; his sons, Avon E, 30, and Charles W, 16; andtheir dau ghter together, Georgia R, 7. George was still farming, Avonwas a farm l aborer, Charles was still in school.
4/25/1910 Lenapah, Nowata Co, OK. On the move again before the nextc ensus. This time George B/R Bathe, 68, had been married 19 years,his s econd marriage, to Sarah E, 47, her first, she still had onlyone child b irth, Georgia R, 17. Thery had two old widowers boardingwith them: G eorge Harlow, 67, stock dealer, and Holland, 63,printer. George was re tired with his own income.
